6 Excuses Standing in the Way of Your Dream

"The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours – it is an amazing journey – and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins.'' - Bob Moawad

You have a dream inside of you — something that makes you feel giddy, energizes you, and excites you. But every time you think about it, you come up with a laundry list of reasons why you can’t just go for it. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. The number one way people sabotage their dreams is by letting that pile of excuses hold them back. Below are the top six excuses that may be keeping you from pursuing your dream, and how to overcome them. Don’t let these excuses stand in your way anymore.

EXCUSE #2: I DON’T HAVE THE MONEY

Consider how much money you actually need and find creative ways to get it. Chances are you haven’t even put pen to paper to figure out how much money is required to live this dream. Don’t compromise your dream before you even explore it. If there’s a will, there’s a way.

EXCUSE #3: I DON’T HAVE TIME

You have the power to make time for the stuff that matters to you. You get to choose whether or not you prioritize your dreams. Are you engaged in any time-wasting activities? What can you accomplish more efficiently? What can you outsource to someone else? Create and carve out the time — you'll find that you do have it.

EXCUSE #4: I’VE ALREADY STARTED DOWN ONE PATH, I CAN’T CHANGE DIRECTION

Every day you make decisions about how you live your life. Give yourself permission to change direction — no matter how much time, energy, or money you’ve already invested in another endeavor, relationship, or job. Life is all about twists and turns — be open to a new direction.

EXCUSE #5: I’M TOO SCARED

It’s natural to be scared of the activities that most excite you. Use fear to propel you forward. Follow your fear, don’t resist it. Learn to feel your fear and face it anyway. Push yourself so you can be proud of yourself.

EXCUSE #6: I’M NOT READY YET

If you’re waiting to be perfectly ready to pursue your dream, you’ll never go for it. We all start one (shaky) step at a time; don’t wait for perfection to move forward. Take the step that begins the plunge.

"The person who really wants to do something finds a way; the other person finds an excuse."- Author Unknown

[This article was written by Alexis Sclamberg, a self-help expert for Millennials. She’s the author of the upcoming book, Borrowed Wisdom, and contributes to publications including Forbes.com, The Huffington Post, and Cosmopolitan magazine. For more inspiration, follow her on Twitter, friend her on Facebook, or check out her website.]